Archive: May 2009

A fellow state lawmaker from Prince George's County testified this week before a grand jury investigating Sen. Ulysses Currie, the latest public sign that a federal probe is continuing into the Democrat's work for a grocery store chain. Del. Dereck...

After putting the budget to bed last week, Montgomery's County Council skipped town for a two-week hiatus. Even as they signed off on the spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, there were still several unresolved issues...

As Republicans continue to ponder possible gubernatorial nominees for next year, among the latest names to emerge is John White, an Annapolis-based marketing executive who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2006. A "Draft John White for Maryland Governor" page has...

Republican Robin Ficker narrowed the gap with his Democratic rival Nancy Navarro after a count of absentee ballots today in Montgomery County. But it was not enough to change the outcome of this week's special election for an open seat...

Maryland transportation secretary John D. Porcari's nomination to become deputy U.S. transportation secretary was approved today by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, a committee staffer said. A full Senate vote on his nomination has not been...

Former Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is lending his voice and personal story to a public service announcement to promote mental health services in tough economic times. Duncan, who withdrew from the 2006 governor's race to battle depression, is...

The Maryland Board of Public Works today barred Alan B. Fabian, a once-wealthy Republican fundraiser, from contracting with the state for an indefinite period. Fabian, who served as finance chairman for Michael S. Steele's 2006 U.S. Senate run in Maryland,...

After winning yesterday's special election in Montgomery County for an open seat on the council, Democrat Nancy Navarro said in a written statement that she was prepared to reach "out to all members of the community" and to provide "the...

The all-day infield party at the Preakness Stakes may have been a dud on Saturday because of a new ban on bring-your-own beer, but it turns out that Churchill Downs doesn't allow spectators to carry in booze either. And...

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) this morning is signing more than 260 bills into law, including measures to require additional reporting for police SWAT teams, force more domestic abusers to forfeit their firearms and authorize speed cameras statewide in school...

After three hours behind closed doors this morning, Montgomery County's response to a devastating decision by state education officials last week was still in flux. On Friday, the state Board of Education rejected the county's request to reduce its share...

On the eve of Montgomery County's special election to fill an open seat on the council, the three candidates - Republican Robin Ficker, Green Party candidate George Gluck and Democrat Nancy Navarro - faced off this afternoon in a radio...

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) this morning announced the planned opening of the Maryland Biotechnology Center in Montgomery County, intended as a resource for the state's life sciences sector, as he prepared to head for a conference in Atlanta on...

The Montgomery County Civic Federation honored several community activists at its annual dinner Friday in Gaitherburg. The federation, which next year marks its 90th birthday, is made up of delegates from civic organizations across the county. The group honored honor...

Senator Barbara Mikulski is described as a champion of Maryland's working class who has worked to improve life for average people in a profile scheduled to air on Maryland Public Television tonight. The state's senior senator, elected in 1976, planned...

Business leaders, a transportation planner, a media consultant, a pharmacist, a professor and a legislative aide are among the community leaders appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) today to head up Maryland's new Commission on African Affairs. The 21 members...

Still undecided about next week's special election in Montgomery County for an open seat on the council? Catch a lively televised debate between two of the candidates - Republican Robin Ficker and Democrat Nancy Navarro - tonight at 9 p.m....

An exchange on the dais of the Montgomery County school board introduced a new acronym to the local vocabulary of educationese. Patricia O'Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase), the board's vice president, told the group yesterday that school principals "might not pick PIAs,"...

As the Montgomery County Council prepares to take a preliminary budget vote as soon as tomorrow, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) is warning of the negative consequences of rejecting his proposed ambulance fee. Giving up "$14 million in annual revenues...

With just eight days to go before the special election for an open seat on the Montgomery County council, Democrats put forward a united front this afternoon for their party's nominee, Nancy Navarro. After a sometimes bitter primary contest, even...

When bestowing gifts on Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) last year, acknowledgment of his Irish heritage proved a popular tactic. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) alone gave O'Malley three such gifts, all books, according to an accounting on...

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) today criticized the County Council's latest take on the county's $4 billion-plus budget, telling the 18th annual Affordable Housing Conference that the council should drop a proposal that he said would put the brakes...

You can tell that the Montgomery County Council is getting close to making final budget decisions from the intensity of pressure that various constituencies are putting on elected officials this week in Rockville. Two dozen leaders from the Latino, Asian...

Katharine Shaver's story in The Post's May 7 edition examines the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, the utility that delivers water to Montgomery and Prince George's counties and the condition of its pipe systems. Main breaks are not uncommon in area...

The Board of Public Works this morning unanimously approved $71 million in school construction funding for buildings around the state, the last chunk of $267 million set aside for fiscal year 2010. The money brings to $1 billion the...

In a continuing effort to curtail state spending, Maryland's two legislative presiding officers have told their members that the state will not pay for most trips to out-of-state conferences and other such travel. "In light of the fiscal situation, travel...

The Board of Public Works this morning approved $7.2 million in contracts to put some of the nuts and bolts of Maryland's slots program in place, awarding $5 million to Spectrum Gaming Group of New Jersey to conduct background...

After weeks of acrimonious debate over pay raises for Montgomery's firefighters, County Executive Isiah Leggett and union leaders announced today that they have signed off on a new deal. Under the agreement, the firefighters join teachers, police officers and other...

Support on the Montgomery County Council appears to be building for a compromise measure to create a partial disability retirement benefit for police officers. The measure, narrowly backed by a joint committee this afternoon, would require a two-tier benefit system,...

The Maryland Republican Party has climbed aboard an effort to petition to referendum the state's recently passed speed camera legislation. The bill, which Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is expected to sign, would authorize jurisdictions statewide to place speed cameras in...

Del. Benjamin F. Kramer picked up more votes than his rival Board of Education member Nancy Navarro in this morning's final absentee ballot count in Montgomery County, but it was not enough to close the gap between them. With all...